Introducing the Next Generation of Creators and Innovators: Taco Bell® Foundation™ Announces First 40 Live Más Scholarship Recipients

Commitment to education expands with second wave of Live Más
Scholarship, opening March 7 with $800,000 of scholarship funds
available for 180 young adults looking to explore their passion

IRVINE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–No test scores, No essays. No right or wrong answers. Just a simple
two-minute video that showcases your passion. These guidelines defined a
new type of scholarship – an education revolution that inspired more
than 2,000 youth over the past couple of months who thought their
passions did not fit neatly into “scholarship material.”

Today, the Taco Bell Foundation announced its first 40 Live Más
Scholarship recipients who will receive a total of $200,000 in post-high
school educational scholarships. Young people selected represent 21
states across the country with a wide variety of passions including
filmmaking, medicine, computer science, dance, comedy, music, fashion,
the environment, art, design and animation.

The Live Más Scholarship isn’t your typical scholarship. It’s a
one-of-a-kind opportunity to support the “other kid,” whose passions and
aspirations may not fall into “academic” or “athletic” qualifying
categories of traditional scholarship programs.

“At the time I applied there was not a lot of positivity around me and I
didn’t think I could go after it,” said Justin Susan, $5,000 Live Más
Scholarship recipient. “So many things have happened in my life that I
am usually emotionless – but this is such a blessing to hear I won. Now,
I can get my novel published.”

“Growing up a military kid, my routine changes a lot and dancing is
really the only thing constant in my life. It’s what I do best,” said
Khorri Tinson, $10,000 Live Más Scholarship recipient. “Applying for the
Live Más Scholarship allowed me to express what I do every day. No other
scholarship asks you about your passion.”

In 2016, the Live Más Scholarship will award a total of $1,000,000 to
220 young adults looking to find their place in the world and make their
passions a reality. Each scholarship recipient will receive between
$2,500 and $25,000 in funding to be used for any accredited post-high
school/post-secondary educational programs, including accredited two-
and four-year college, universities, vocational-technical and trade
schools.

“The spirit of youth is the Taco Bell brand – young adults are who we
hire, create unique food experiences for, and interact with every day,”
said Frank Tucker, Chief People Officer, Taco Bell Corp. and President,
Taco Bell Foundation. “Simply put: America’s young adults are part of
our DNA. And they want to do big things. We hear that calling and
believe it’s our responsibility to invest in these young people and help
them succeed on their unique paths. We’re proud of the 40 scholarship
recipients for taking a chance on themselves and we’re excited for the
next 180 recipients who will apply for the next phase of the
scholarship.”

The search for tomorrow’s innovators, dreamers and creators has just
begun. Individuals between the ages of 16 and 24 years have another
chance to earn a Live Más Scholarship. Submissions for the second phase
of scholarships are due May 27, 2016, 11:59 p.m. PDT. Those applicants
who were not selected during the first phase do not need to reapply and
will be automatically considered in the second phase.

At least one-third of today’s high school graduates are not planning on
attending college1. There is a new generation of youth with
unique talents, pushing on convention and looking for alternative paths
to pursue their passions. They just need the right amount of support to
be relentless in their pursuit. Taco Bell and the Taco Bell Foundation
recognize that. For years, Taco Bell and the Taco Bell Foundation have
invested in educational development in a traditional sense, providing
young adults with resources and support they need to successfully finish
high school and become college or career ready. Now, they’re feeding the
spirit of the “other kid.”

Taco
Bell Corp., a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., (NYSE: YUM), is the
nation’s leading Mexican-inspired quick service restaurant. Taco Bell
serves made to order and customizable tacos, burritos, and specialties
such as the exclusive Doritos® Locos Tacos, gourmet-inspired Cantina
Power Menu™, lower calorie Fresco options and is the first QSR
restaurant to offer American Vegetarian Association (AVA)-certified menu
items. Taco Bell Breakfast offers portable, classic items such as the
A.M. Crunchwrap®, Waffle Taco and signature burritos. The company
encourages customers to “Live Más,” both through its food and in ways
such as its Feed
The Beat® music program and its nonprofit organization, the Taco
Bell® Foundation™. Taco Bell and its more than 350 franchise
organizations have more than 6,000 restaurants across the United States
that proudly serve more than 42 million customers every week.

About Taco Bell Foundation

Taco Bell Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) public benefit
corporation with the founded focus of investing in the potential of
America’s youth through education and helping them realize their dreams.
Since 1992, the Foundation has reached more than 5 million young people
across 600 youth-serving organizations and about 1,700 high schools in
the U.S. through partnerships and programs like GraduateforMas.com,
and has awarded more than $75 million in scholarships and grants focused
on education and career readiness. In 2016, Taco Bell and the Taco Bell
Foundation launched the Live
Más Scholarship, a program aimed at empowering the nation’s next
generation of dreamers, innovators and creators – those whose passions
don’t fall into the conventional “academic” or “athletic” qualifying
categories of traditional scholarship programs. For more information
visit tacobellfoundation.org.